AgustaWestland Inks Sino-US Deal for Chinese Distribution

Agreement includes the purchase of 20 helicopters made up of AW189, AW139, AW169, GrandNew and AW119Ke variants.

AgustaWestland has reached a distributorship agreement at the China Helicopter International Exhibition, making Sino-US its non-exclusive distributor of civil helicopters in China. The agreement excludes sales of helicopters in Hong Kong and Macau, and includes orders for 20 helicopters valued at $223 million. The two companies signed a preliminary agreement for the helicopter order at the Paris Air Show in June 2013, which consists of AW119Ke single engine, GrandNew light twin, AW169, AW139 and AW189 helicopters.

Sino-US, a Shanghai Zenisun Investment Group subsidiary, will look to introduce the new generation of AgustaWestland helicopters into the Chinese civil helicopter market, a market that AgustaWestland's senior vice president, Emilio Dalmasso calls "increasingly important." Both companies are pursuing a variety of mission requirements, including VIP transport duties.

Emilio Dalmasso (left), senior vice president of the commercial business unit for AgustaWestland, with Jianming Zou, chairman of Sino-US.

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